Medical Marijuana Store Expansion for LeafLine Labs Scheduled for June

LeafLine Labs is scheduled to open a store in St. Cloud, Minnesota in June. The state-approved production and distribution facility for medical marijuana in Minnesota currently has a growing and production facility in Cottage Grove and plans to expand more stores later this year.

According to SC Times, LeafLine Labs is scheduled to open a medical marijuana store in St. Cloud, Minnesota on the first week of June. The state-approved distribution facility is one of the two providers chosen by the state to manufacture as well as distribute medical marijuana along with Medical Solutions. Dr. Andrew Bachman, co-founder and chief medical officer for LeafLine Labs, said that their facility has acquired a certificate of occupancy for a storefront in a strip mall near 33rd Avenue and Second Street South - specifically on 125-33rd Ave. S.

Bachman said, "I know there are a lot of people in St. Cloud that need (medical marijuana)... And we feel we're going to be in a great position to help them." He added, "Once a month people are driving four, four-and-a-half hours to get to us because ... other medications didn't work." It was reported by the state's Department of Health that 1,324 patients are licensed to pick up medical marijuana in the state alone.

According to another article on Sack Coalition, other LeafLine Labs distribution centers are also scheduled to open in July as well as in the later months for 2016. Bachman said, "Our operation is, if anything, tracking slightly ahead of our original schedule... Our initial care center location in Eagan and a second facility later this summer was always our intent."

The company currently has a 42,000 square-foot growing and production facility in Cottage Grove and a store in Eagan. These production facilities harvest marijuana plants and extract the necessary components needed in the production of medical marijuana.

Bachman believed that the expansion of additional stores will provide access to people in outstate Minnesota. He also revealed that the St. Cloud store will not provide marijuana leaves, buds, and other plant forms but will instead operate like a combination spa and pharmacy. Patients are already allowed to procure their certification from health care practitioners following approval.

According to the Northlands News Center, the legalization of medical marijuana in Minnesota had been passed for nearly a year after it took effect in July 1, 2015. It is reportedly a conservative and tightly regulated program. Michelle Larson, Director of the Medical Cannabis Program in Minnesota, said that although the program had already been approved for qualified patients, people are not allowed to use marijuana for recreational use.

The use of medical marijuana is currently limited to conditions such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, Tourette's Syndrome, ALS, seizure disorders, muscle spasms, Chrohn's disease, glaucoma, and other forms of terminal illness. Members of the public are reportedly asking for program expansion with regard to the list of qualifying medical conditions.